Water-proof garment



(R0 Model.) s SheetsSheet 1. M, L. BROWN. WATER PROOF GARMENT.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. L. BROWN. WATER PROOF GARMENT.

No.. 439,103. Patented Oct. 28,1890.

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7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY L. BROWN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-PROOF GARM ENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 439,103, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed July 11,1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY L. BROWN, of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Storm or other Suits; and I do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in storm or other suits, and especially to that particular class commonly known to the trade as water-proofs, gossamers, or traveling suits, the object being to provide a light comfortable neat-appearing garment for protection in stormy weather and having means connected therewith for carrying the skirts sufliciently elevated to prevent their being bedraggled in mud, dirt, or water, and at the same time without interfering with the hanging of the storm-suit resulting from undue strain upon it or exposing any of the underskirts to view or necessitating care or attention on the part of the wearer to prevent them from being soiled.

Afurther object is to provide a Water-proof garment with a basque-front which may be buttoned back to form ornamental revers or buttoned together to constitute an enlarged double-breasted sack suitable for a larger person or for protection.

A still further object is to furnish means for conveniently carrying the arms in various positions by allowing them to be passed through the front or bottom of the sleeve.

With these ends in view my invention con- 'sists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stormsuit. Fig. 2is a similar view with the basque thrown back. Fig. 3 is a view of the inside of my improved storm-suit. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the garment, showing the hood attached; and Fi 5 is a detached view of the hood.

A represents the body of the garment. This is made in the prevailing styles to neatly fit the wearer and completely cover the dress.

Eerial No. 317,166. (No model.)

It may be made of any of the fabrics commonly used for the purpose. The upper portion of the garment, which fits more closely about the waist, is furnished with numerous perforations l 1, which constitute ventilators for the free circulation of air.

A pair of basque-fronts 2 2 are stitched along their rear edges to the waist of the garment, preferably at the sides, and these perform two functions-namely, to give an ornamental finish, and, still more important, to serve as an additional means of protection to the wearer or to admit of adjustment to accommodate a large person which this suit would not otherwise conveniently fit. Each front is provided With a row of button-holes 3 at its outer edge, and a little farther back with a row of buttons 4. If desired, one front may be lapped over the other and fastened to the buttons 4 on the other front, or, in case this would make the basque portion too small, another row of buttons 5 just back of one set of button-holes is used as a means of attachment; but still another way of wearing the basque portion, and the mode most commonly adopted,is to 'fold the edges back and secure them over the buttons, thus forming ornamental revers and concealing one row of buttons.

Obviously many varieties of sleeves might be used with equal advantage; but there is one form which I particularly prefer, as shown in the drawings. In some respects this is like the cape-sleeve in general use, consisting of a kind of sling depending from the garment at a point above or in the vicinity of the shoulder to a point just below the position of the elbow. An opening 6 of considerable size is formed in the side of the waist for the arm to pass through, and a corresponding opening is made in the basque-front, which forms the lining of the sleeve. In addition to this the sleeve is open in front for the hands to pass, and is fastened by strap and button, if desired. Thus far this form of sleeve is but slightly different from those hitherto in use; but an essential feature in this sleeve consists in the supplemental sleeve 7 at the bottom. The advantage of this is seen at once. It frequently becomes necessary for ladies to reach down to their pockets or to adjust their dresses or perhaps lift them in crossing wet or muddy places. It is very inconvenient to do this if only an opening in the front of the sleeve is formed, and not only is it inconvenient, but also it is liable to tear the sleeve or put undue strain upon the garment. To avoid this, it has been customary for the wearer to entirely withdraw the arms from the sleeves and pass them down inside or beneath the latter. This supplemental sleeve obviates this inconvenience very effectually, and it is so arranged by gathering it over an elastic or yielding cord or other device at its outer end that it fitslhe wrist snugly after the manner of a wristlet, being preferably suspended by elastic straps 10. These wristlets fit over the wrists and ends of the sleeves, and to them the mittens 11 11 may be attached or detached by means of buttons or other devices. The mittens are gathered at the wrist to hold them on and perforated to allow the air to circulate freely inside. This attachment to the sleeve allows the wearer to carry her arms in any position, making it much more pleasant to wear the suit, and at the same time the dress-sleeves are kept continually covered and protected from exposure to the storm. The sleeves may be furnished inside with pockets for carrying small articles, such as pocket-handkerchiefs or the like.

One or more openings 12 12 are formed at convenient positions in the skirt, and instead of pockets being formed back of these openings the pockets let 14 are located a short distance therefrom, but within reach and on the inside of the garment.

The hood 15 is novel in construction. It is attached by means of hooks and eyes beneath the collar 16 of the garment. The portion 17, which goes over the head, is ornamented by the use of balls 17 or other devices to suit the fancy, and the portion below, which goes around the neck, has a pair of flaps 18 18, which are designed to button over the face in stormy Weather, just leaving an opening 19 for the eyes. When the: hood is not used, these flaps are turned inside out of the way, and the hood hangs down the back in the ac- (customed manner. This hood, like the other parts, may have perforations therein, if desired, where it fits closely around the neck and would otherwise be very warm.

The whole garment may be variously plaited in addition to the novel features described, and be differently finished to suit the prevailing style and demand, and I do not restrict myself to the use of anyparticular material, as it is evident that any suitable fabric may be used. At the waist usually an elastic band is stitched to draw the garment up tightly about the wearer at this point.

Insi le a skirt-elevating attachment is .secured. This consists of a pair of long straps 2O 20, which are attached near the middle to the garment, so that the ends depend back and in front of the wearer, thus constituting four pendants. A belt 21 is secured to these straps at the waist to keep them together, and

the ends of this belt are buttoned or buckled around the waist. The straps are made extensible by means of hooks and eyes, clasps, buckles, buttons, or similar devices, so that they may be fastened to the skirts to hold them elevated. The pendants may be passed beneath-the outer skirts and secured at their ends to the inside skirt, and in order to keep such inside skirt clean and dry and give it the outward appearance of the rest of the gossamer it might be faced at the lower edge with some water-proof material. By means of this attachment the skirts are kept clean without trouble of carrying them with the hands, and all the weight is supported by the shoulders, over which the straps pass.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an outer garment, of a pair of depending straps attached about midway of their length to the inside of the garment at or near the shoulders, said straps having fasteners thereon and means whereby they may be lengthened or shortened, and a belt secured to the straps and also to the inside of the garment at the waist, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with an outer waterproof garment, of water-proof wristlets depending loosely therefrom and waterproof mittens removably secured to the wristlets, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with an outer garment and sleeves thereon, of wristlets depending loosely from the sleeves and perforated mittens removably secured to the wristlets, substantially as set forth.

l. The combination, with an outer garment, of sleeves secured thereto along their upper, rear, and lower edges, and having openings in their lower edges, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with an outer garment, of sleeves secured thereto along their upper, rear, and lower edges, having openings in their lower edges, and mittens depending from said sleeves in proximity to the openings in the lower edges, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with an outer garment and basque -fronts, the garment and fronts having openings therein for the arms, of sleeves formed of a single layer of material secured to the garment, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with an outer garment and perforated basque -fronts, the garment and fronts having openings therein for the arms, of sleeves formed of a single layer of specification in the presence of two subscribmaterial secured to the garment at the top, ing Witnesses. back, and bottom, so that the basque-fronts constitute the inner lining of the sleeves, said MARY BROWN 5 sleeves having openings in the front and bot- Witnesses:

tom, substantially as set forth. SOHUYLER DURYEE,

In testimony whereof I have signed this P. H. STAGG. 

